Baseball batting device



June 28,1960

W. H. MOORE BASEBALL BATTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1958 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM H. MOORE 2,942,883 PatentedxJ'une 28,I'196O 1,942,883 4 H BASEBALL BATTING DEVICE William H. M 42s Brattle Road, Syracuse, N.Y. that '11, 1953,91. No. 754,343

" 1 Claims. I Cl. 213-26) .,This invention relates generally tohaseball training equipment, and has particular reference to a novel device for improving a ,playersbatting ability in games such as hard ball,v soft ball andthe like.- ;-j

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a resilient ball which is connected by a relatively long line or rope to a handle, the handle being used by one player to swing the ball about himself in a circular path. The batter stands adjacent the path travelled by the ball and attempts to hit it when it arrives at a point opposite him. The ball can be made to rotate at varying rates of speed, and in this way the batter is able to improve his batting eye, stance, swing, and so forth.

Since the ball is securely attached to the handle it can travel only a limited distance after being hit, and thus the device has the advantage that it can be used in a limited area, as for example, in a small backyard. However,

Uni m Pa since the ball may still be hit often and hard, it must be able to stand wear and, in particular, must be securely connected to the line on which it swings.

The primary object of the invention therefore is to provide a baseball batting device of the character described which is able to withstand the impact of batting over a relatively long period of time.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a baseball batting device which may be used in a restricted area, as mentioned hereinabove.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a baseball batting device which has a very simple construction and can be inexpensively manufactured and sold.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a batting device of the character described having a greatly improved means for attaching a resilient ball to the end of a swing line.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a batting device of the character described wherein the ball, which is subject to the greatest strain and wear, can be easily replaced without the necessity of purchasing a complete new device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a representative embodiment of the invention for the purpose of disclosure.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a batting device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the manner in which the batting device is used; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged section through the ball showing the improved connecting means therefor.

Having reference now to the drawings, wherein-like reference numbers designate the same part in each of the views, the batting device is essentially comprised of a handle 10, a resilient ball 11 and a relatively long line or rope 12 operably connecting the ball to the handle. The

. 2. handle is preferably cylindrical inlshape and maybe made of any suitable material such as wood. In using the device, one of the players, indicated at 14 in Figure 2, holds the lower end of the handle and swings the ball 11 in a circular path for the batter, indicated at 15, to hit. To prevent the handle from flying out of the swingers hand when the ball is hit hard, a line loop 17 is attached to the bottom of the handle as by a screw eye 18, and this-loop shown in Figure 2.

The line 12, which 'is preferably clothesline or the like,

is approximately 7 long and is attached to the upper end of the handle 10 as by a swivel plate 20 and book 21. At its other end, this line is detachably secured as by tying to a shorter length of line 22 which forms the connecting means for the ball 11.

1 The ball is preferably made of rubber or fairly dense sponge rubber, and is formed with a pair of convergent holes 24 which extend therethrough from one side to the other as is best shown in the enlarged sectional view of Figure 3. The ends of the shorter line 22 are passed through the holes 24 in the direction in which they converge to form a bight or closed loop 25 on the side of the hall where the holes are most widely spaced. On the opposite side of the hall, where the ends of the line 22 emerge from the holes, the ends are connected together as by tying them into a knot 27 which prevents the line from being pulled out of the ball.

The ball connecting means just described provides a very strong linkage where it is most needed because the ball normal-1y receives the direct impact of the bat. With a ball formed of rubber, a rigid mechanical connection is, of course, impossible. The loop and double hole arrangement disclosed, however, greatly reduces the possibility of having the line pull out of the ball because the loop tends to flatten or stretch out when the ball is hit and part of the impact is absorbed by the compressive action of the sides of the loop 'or bight on the portion 28 of the ball where the loop sides are farthest apart, see Figure 3. In addition, passing two spaced lengths of line through the ball and knotting them together on the far side makes a much stronger connection than if a single length were passed through and knotted because his very much more diflicult to pull the knot back through the holes. The latter possibility, moreover, is almost completely eliminated in the present invention by the provision of a reinforcing or stress distributing pad 30 positioned on the ends of the line 22 between the knot 2-7'and.ball, the pad 30 preferably being in the form of a thick rubber washer having a larger area than the diameter of the knot whereby the force tending to pull the knot into the ball is distributed over a larger portion of the surface of the ball.

In addition to the strength and durability advantage noted above, the loop connecting means for the ball has another important advantage which is that it allows easy replacement of the ball should such become necessary. Thus, the loop on the replacement ball can simply be attached to the end of the swing line 12 as shown in Figure 1 without the necessity of purchasing a complete new unit.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, this invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiment disclosed is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive,

the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a baseball batting device, an elongated handle, a wrist encircling line secured to one end of said handle, a swivel connector secured to the other end of said handle, an elongated line connected at one end to said swivel is adapted to extend loosely about the wrist as length of line having its ends passed through said holes in thedirectionuin which they converge to term a bight insthe line on the .side of the hall where the holesare the most widely spaced, means to secure the ends ot:.said short line together on the opposite side of said ball, and a resilient 'stressdistributing pad member interposed between said ball and said line securing means, said bight being detachably secured to the other end'of said elongatedfline.

L2. In, a baseball batting device: an elongated, substan- 'tially soli'd'handl e; a swivel connector secured to oneend ofsaid handle; an elongated line memberconnected at one end to said swivel connector; and a replaceable :ball assembly detaehably secured to the other end of said line member, said replaceable ball assembly includinga resilien-t, simulated baseball having a pair of convergent holes extending therethrough from one side of the ball toathe other adjacent the center thereof, a second line member of relatively short length having its ends passed 'connectonfa msilientnball having a lair" of convergent holes extending therethrough from one side of the ball to the other adjacent the center thereof, a separate short through 5 said holes; the directiort -in which References Cited file this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 596,643 Weingard ;I';I Jan. 4, 1898 674,303 Morgan May 14, 1901 883,860 Craven Apr. 7, 1908 1,880,501 Scott Oct. 4, 1932 1 ,932,943 1 Smith 4...... 0015. 31; 1933 2,181,979 Schaetfer Dec. 5, 319 39 2,247,072 Stow June'i'A, 19% 

